FROM DAYS GONE BY

This week’s Memory Jogger, submitted by Ruth Reeder of McConnellsburg, was taken in 1940 and pictures Ruth feeding her brother Carl an ice cream cone, and Joanne Paylor Harr. 20 Years Ago

From The Files Of November 19, 1992

’92

Fulton County Medical Center officials unveiled the center’s new emergency room facilities last week. The facilities have recently been relocated from the first floor, northeast wing of the building to the ground floor, northwest wing. The emergency room, which is now much larger than the previous facility, is now located in the former ladies auxiliary room of the center. The room provides the capability of five beds for triaging or treating, with curtains separating each area.

As the Fulton County Food Basket prepares for a busy holiday season, hunters are now being asked to contribute to this very worthwhile program. Effective immediately, the Food Basket will accept donations of venison to be distributed to clients.

Veterans Day ceremonies, sponsored by the American Legion Post 561 and Bishop Raker VFW Post 655, were held November 11 at the courthouse in McConnellsburg. Merrill Kerlin served as master of ceremonies for the program, and Forbes Road Band offered musical selections. Cmdr. William G. Hine of Harrisonville was the guest speaker.

The tragic shooting death of a 19-yearold Harrisonville area man which occurred last Thursday, November 12, at a home on West Market Street in McConnellsburg, remains under investigation. Police have released few details on the death of Matthew Oakman, Harrisonville. Oakman was visiting at the home of H. Lyle and Marie Duffey and her son at Market Street along with six other young males and two young females. At approximately 6:50 p.m. Oakman received a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was transported to the Fulton County Medical Center. Police would not comment on whether they believed Oakman’s death to be a homicide, suicide or an accidental shooting.

At Kansas City, Mo., Brian Lake of Big Cove Tannery joined an elite group of FFA achievers. Lake, son of Don and Marna Lake, received the highest degree of membership awarded by the National FFA organization, the American FFA Degree. He is a 1989 graduate of Southern Fulton High School.

Alesa Leasure and Melvin Henry Jr. were united in marriage May 30 at the lakeside home of the bride’s uncle in Scottsboro, Ala. The bride is the daughter of McKinley Leasure of Warfordsburg and Inva Leasure of Hancock. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Henry of Berkeley Springs.

Linette Diehl and Bradley Palmer were united in marriage September 5 at Friends Cove United Church of Christ. Parents of the couple are William and Freda Diehl of Bedford and Lonnie and Debra Palmer of Warfordsburg.

30 Years Ago

From The Files Of November 25, 1982

’82

Seven persons were treated and released from Fulton County Medical Center following an accident on Route 913 in New Grenada. The mishap occurred when a truck driven by Melvin Smith of Huntingdon went out of control while rounding a curve in New Grenada. The vehicle spun across the wet roadway, knocked out two guardrails and dropped off an embankment, flipping onto its roof in the process, and landed in a creek. Smith and these passengers were treated: Michelle Smith, 8, Roger Leonard, 14, Robert Port, 6, Michael Leonard, 10, Meissa Smith, 4, and Stacey Leonard, 8. Local residents had pulled the occupants from the car by the time fire and ambulance personnel arrived at the scene.

The bill that would make Fulton County an independent judicial district was passed by the state House of Representatives last Wednesday by a vote of 188-1.

The old Wintergreen School on Dublin Mills Road is now the Pentecostal Church. The church was refurbished by Rev. Charles Duffey and the congregation. They worked through the summer to renovate the school, concentrating on keeping it rustic and simple with a spiritual atmosphere.

The directors of the Fulton County Fair Associaton wish to express appreciation to “fair-goers” for contributing to the success of the 1972 fair. A total of more than $10,300 was paid in premiums to some 457 exhibitors.

Game Warden Carl Jarrett of Mc- Connellsburg reports that Fulton County hunters enjoyed a very satisfactory small game season and, to date, the deer kill has been very good.

Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird, noting that the draft will expire on June 30 after three decades, said last week that no men will be inducted in January and only 10,000 were called into the Army during the first six months of the year.

The fund drive to help meet the medical expenses for the seriously injured sprint car racer, John Ebersole, is now beginning its final week. Mr. Ebersole was pulled from the burning wreckage of his race vehicle at the Port Royal Speedway on the night of August 26. Since then, he has undergone numerous operations and will remain hospitalized for some time.

Birth at the Medical Center: a son to Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Parks of Marion on November 26.

Miss Debbie C. Hollinshead and Gary E.Truax were united in marriage November 5 in the John Wesley United Methodist Church in Hagerstown. Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. Connie Hollinshead of McConnellsburg and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Truax, also of McConnellsburg.

Sheffield, north of McConnellsburg, was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning. Firemen were unable to get their equipment to the site in time due to the heavy snow on the dirt road leading to the log and frame house. The property was owned by Garner Snyder.

A committee headed by Wade McCray and including W. Palmer, Mrs. Howard Layton, Franklin Geist, Delmar Mellott, Mrs. Marian Hardin and Ralph Layton has been formed to deal with all matters pertaining to the establishment of future business enterprises in the lower end of the county.

Mosco Mills, Burnt Cabins; Clifford House, Hustontown; Sandra Lester, Knobsville; and David Hoover Jr. were all injured as a result of accidents on the snow-covered highway last week.

Willard Golden of Warfordsburg sold two pigs recently weighing 760 pounds and 820 pounds, a total of 1,580. This beats the record held by S.W. Cunningham, who recently sold two hogs weighing a total of 1,430 pounds.

Wade McCray will show colored slides of his recent trip to India at Southern Fulton High School for the benefit of the Crippled Children’s Society.

Fulton is one of five counties chosen by the State Agriculture Department to be used as test areas under a rural area development program for cropland conversion.

More than 450 black bears are estimated to have been killed during the 1962 season, which ended on Saturday. This may set a 15-year record. Not since 1947, when 569 bruins were bagged, have hunters registered such a high kill.

Max Stenger was elected chief and Jim Gordon president of the McConnellsburg Fire Co. at a meeting on Tuesday.

Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Richards invited more than 60 of their daughter Jane’s classmates to a party at the firehall to help her celebrate her 16th birthday on Saturday.

Ella L. McLaughlin, Darby Run, and Carl L. Ramsey were married on November 17.

Special this week at Ford Motor Sales: 1961 Ford for $1,395.

A daughter was born on Monday to Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hardin of Warfordsburg.

New of men in service: Pfc. Melvin Peck, McConnellsburg, is serving with the U.S. Army with an ordinance company and an APO New York address. Army Specialist Four Daniel S. Pluta, Warfordsburg, is serving with the U.S. Army in Frankfurt, Germany.

The McConnellsburg High School senior play will be presented on December 13. Members of the cast are: Mary Ann Paylor, Sharleen Mellott, Shirley Kerlin, Mary Cline, Patsy Morton, Colleen Shimer, Ronnie Richards, Harlan Deshong, Bob Black, George Harness, Mike Keebaugh and John Davis.

A square dance will be held Saturday night at Teen Haven, the new gathering place for the younger set in the Glen-Nel Hotel, with Ed Hendershot calling the figures. On December 21, a Christmas film will be shown, followed by carolling.

Mrs. Thelma Deshong, 84-year-old resident of Needmore, has recovered from a bout with both measles and pneumonia.

Births at the Medical Center: a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Dallas Strait of Mc- Connellsburg on December 2; a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. George I. Bookheimer of Hustontown on December 4.

Since Fulton County’s entire allotment of 2,050 doe licenses has been sold, it can reasonably be expected that a small army of hunters will take to the woods and hills on Monday for the opening of the three-day antlerless deer season in Pennsylvania.

Announcement has been made of the engagement of Doris Jean Laidig to Robert W. Solenberger.

Twenty years ago on December 10, 1932, Dr. Edgar H. MacKinaly began what he then considered a temporary stay in Mc- Connellsburg to practice medicine. At that time, he had plans to take up a residency at Presbyterian Hospital in New York City specializing in eye, ear, nose and throat. However, “Doc” became so “wrapped up” in Fulton County and her people that he has been here ever since. On the 15th anniversary of his practice here, “Doc” received nationwide publicity when the Pittsburgh Press did a colored feature on “The Country Doctor,” featuring him on his everyday rounds as a general practitioner in Fulton County.

Homer Lee Screiver, 29, of Buck Valley, was killed last Thursday morning in a highway accident west of Hagerstown. Charles F. Shank, also of Buck Valley, was injured in the same accident, which occurred when the 1950 pickup truck in which the men were riding crashed into a bridge abutment

The McConnellsburg Borough Municipal Authority announced this week that a 25-percent increase in water rates will become effective on January 1, 1953.

The following students received the FFA Greenhand Degree last Thursday evening: Paul Strait, Herbert Knepper, Clarence Bard, Donald Miller, Robert Ranck, Carl Cutchall, Banks Kesselring and Wayne Regi of Taylor; Edward Beatty, Leroy Barnhart, Jimmie Deshong, Robert Hendershot, Leon McCray, Marvin Oakman and Clyde Strait of Warfordsburg; and Homer Bivens of Mc- Connellsburg. The initiation program was held in the vocational school building in Chambersburg.

Lucky deer hunters are being asked this year to donate their deer skins to the war effort, to be made into gloves, ear muffs, jackets, etc., for the men in the armed forces.

Sgt. Theodore Hamil was recently transferred from Camp Walters, Texas, to the Officers’ Training School at Fort Benning, Ga.

Guy Wible of Knobsville underwent an emergency operation for mastoids at his home on Tuesday. The operation was performed by Dr. Lysle Sherwin of McConnellsburg and Drs. Seaton and McCrae of Chambersburg. The operation was performed at home due to the fact that Wible was under quarantine.

Pvt. Arthur Grissinger has recovered from injuries sustained in the obstacle course at Kansas City, which necessitated his spending a month in the hospital.

Mrs. Elizabeth Shives celebrated her 80th birthday at her home in McConnellsburg on Sunday.

Mrs. Blanche Patterson went to Washington, D.C., last week to assume her duties as matron in a girls’ school.

Fred Dixon, superintendent of schools in the Virgin Islands, and his wife are visiting his parents at Needmore and his sister, Mrs. Nelson Comerer of town.

Pfc. Melvin Seville, who is on guard duty in Washington, D.C., spent a 10-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Seville of Big Cove Tannery. He wears a bar on his uniform, indicating he was in service before war was declared, and also a cross for expert rifle shooting

Walter Ray shot a six-point buck last Saturday.

Sgt. Dale Black of Center is now stationed at Norfolk, Va.

Harvey Wible of Mc- Connellsburg has purchased the William Miller property at Knobsville.

Death: Edward Foster of Chambersburg.

Pvt. Warren Helman of Knobsville is now stationed at Camp Lee, Va.

George Naugle and family of Burnt Cabins left on Tuesday for Florida.

A little girl came to live in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Johnson of Wells Tannery.

80 Years Ago

From The Files Of December8, 1932

’32

Deaths: Mrs. Henry

Wilson of Clear

Ridge; John H. Warsing of Bedford County; Maude Spriggs of near Mc- Connellsburg; six-week-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Rush Wagoner of Knobsville.

Rev. Donald F. Brake was the guest speaker at the annual memorial service on Sunday afternoon at the Elks Club in Waynesboro.

The barn on the James Hill farm at Needmore was destroyed by fire last Wednesday evening. Five cows perished in the blaze and machinery valued at several thousands of dollars was destroyed.

The 72nd Congress convened on Monday. The only question considered thus far has been the wet and dry issue, the wets losing by six votes.

Rev. and Mrs. J.A. Garver are both seriously ill with ptomaine poisoning at their home in Frankstown. Rev. Garver was a former pastor in Fulton County.

McConnellsburg businessmen will stage a home talent show in the Fulton Theatre next week for the benefit of the McConnellsburg School Band. Some of the characters in the laughprovoking production will be Horace Nace as Betty Coed, Roy Sipes as Peaches Browning and Michael Black as the Village Vamp. In all, more than 100 persons will take part.

A surprise party was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pittman on Saturday evening in honor of the 60th birthday of Mr. Pittman and the 92nd birthday of Mrs. John Shaffer.

George Snyder, a state highway employee, was critically burned about the face, ears, hands and chest when a gasoline tanker exploded last Thursday morning. The accident occurred near Websters Mill when the tank on the truck driven by Walter Shaw exploded, presumably caused by a short circuit. Other men in the truck escaped injury by jumping to safety. Snyder was rushed to Chambersburg Hospital where his condition is listed as critical, although there is some hope of saving his life.

Joel Knepper of Waterfall is confined to his bed with scarlet fever.

Frank Stinson, while hunting deer on Monday in Horse Valley, fell and had a twig pierce his eye.

Henry Hann of Websters Mill is listed among the lucky deer hunters, having killed a fine eight-point buck on Saturday.

The Burnt Cabins correspondent tells this deer story, “Mrs. H.V. Locke of Orbisonia and Mrs. Howard Long of Pittsburgh tramped all day on Monday in search of a buck. Finally at day’s end, when they were both dead tired, they came upon a big buck that either one could have brought down easily. Both ladies stared at the buck but neither one shot – neither had the heart to kill such a beautiful animal.”